Unable to unlock sliding door from the outside

[neilh]

Hello everybody. When I bought my van (RHD 1985) the sliding door lock did not work (barrel was siezed) and the door had to be unlocked from the inside. I did as many people have done and went down the road of trying to free off the tumblers and springs of the door lock barrel. For me this was unsuccessful and I ended up purchasing a new barrel which I have installed in the new housing/handle and fitted back to the door (I'm OK with having a different key for this) The inside door lock via using the black knob works perfectly but I cannot get the door to lock or unlock by using the key from the outside.

I've taken it apart again and can see that the square shank at the end of the barrel goes through the latch allowing the small screw to be inserted and tightened from the inside, holding the handle in place. No problem there, but I cannot see anywhere where there is a "connection" between the locking/unlocking action of the door lock barrel and and the latch, if that makes sense. What I mean is, when I use the key to lock or unlock the door, nothing happens apart from the barrel turns clockwise and anti-clockwise in an locking and unlocking motion. Upon inspection of the latch, I can see there is a lever which the lock housing goes through and it's like a cam or lever should be between the lock and the latch lever, allowing it to move and lock or unlock the door, but there is nothing there and I can't see where there would have been.

I've had a look at some parts drawings and can't really see anything that I haven't already got and I'm a bit confused....

Can anybody please shed any light on how this mechanism is supposed to work and if you think I might have something missing?

Sorry for not illustrating with pictures, I'm away from home and no where near the van!

Thanks
Neil

[billy739]

look at the handle off the door!

near the end that goes into the door just back from the square shank there should be a small grey square eack side , slightly raised , on the black casing of the lock

this is a plunger which moves when the key is turned.

you probably didint fit it when re assembling the lock as you cannot refit the lock incorrectly!

[Plasticman]

pity I dont have a picky to hand, but as billy rightly says if you were to take the lock barrel call it what you like out, you should see a rectangular block? which should move in and out freely with the barrel out, have you got thgis part fitted?
forget the door and lock parts as your problem will lie as weve suggested
mm

[neilh]

Thanks guys. I thought it would be something like that. There certainly wasn't anything there when I took it off so I guess it's been lost previously.
I went to my local VW dealer a while ago and had a look at their parts sytem but the guy couldn't identify the if I had something missing or not. Do you know if it's a part I can buy separately from anywhere?

Cheers
Neil

[Plasticman]

think not, maybe wanted add for a s/h handle and go from there
mm